Method of producing decorative articles



K. L. TORNO. MEIHOD OF PRODUCING DECORATIVE ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-1|, I920.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

JIYVEJJCOJ". KARL L A-rrbzwsy.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL 1.. 'romwo, or summer, curl-01mm, micron on murmur '10 ram: isswiwsiir, or our ramoieoo. ofluroama.

METHOD OF PRODUCING DIOOBLTIVE ABTIOLEQ.

lpeoiflcation of Letters Intent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed February ll, "l0. riel Io. 857,991.

7 0 all whom may /nr "1'",

Be it known that l, hainl L Toaso, a subject of the Kingdom of Sweden,having received my first pppers of citizenship in the United States ofAmerica, and a reaident of the cit of Berkeley, county of Alameda, State0 California, have made a new and useful invention, to wit: Methods ofProducing Decorative Articles; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same.

The invention relates particularly to an article of manufacture and themethod of producing the same, and has for its object the imitation orsimulation of leather. ivory and the like for interior decoration.

- objects appear as this description pro grosses-l In this specificationand the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the formconsidered to be the best, but it is to be understood that thisinvention is not limited to such form, because it ma be embodied inother forms; and it is a so to be understood that in and by the claimsfollowing the description, it is desired to cover the invention iiwhatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view diagrammatically illustrating animitation of wrinkled leather.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same illus trating the structure of thepanel.

The limitations of a patent drawing convey no conception of the artisticmerit of the invention and are submitted to merely illustrate thestructure.

' In many of the old governmental buildings, palaces and residencesrepresentatives of early periods of architecture abroad, wall panels ofdressed leather veneered ivory, and like substances have beenincorporated into the interior walls in the shape of panels.

The action of time and the elements has caused these panels to take onmellow tones and to contract and wrinkle into contrasting and decorativedesigns.

In imitating such conditions 'I take any suitable panel or board such as1 and cover it with a putty like plastic layer such as 2. It may beapplied with a trowel or with a brush. For this purpose I prefer a puttyOther composed ofthe following ingredients in substantially theproportions given. I ut, there are numerous similar compositions thatwill serve the purpose. For such imita time I alter the form of theputty rendering it hard or soft or rendering it more elastic ascircumstances req iire by varyin the roportions: i; of ru ,Wfffll'nlsbard rymg), l of whrto. ,dfler, l; turpentine, mixed with 1 part 1.! purewhite lead, 1 part finely ground silica,

whore flexibility is required, such as bending around comers, I use aheavy card board or the like tor the back panel 1. However, such acomposition as thus set forth will adhere permanently to glass, metal orany substance that is tree from greases. llhilc the putt covering isstill plastic, before it sets, I ta e a cloth or other suitable fabricand wet the same in water, then wring it slightly, leaving it quite wet.This cloth leaving the natural wrinkles and puckers is then carelesslyspread over-the panels 1 and 2. This cloth is then patted down into theputty like coating 2, preferably by hand. Then the cloth is gentlyremoved from the putty leaving its impression thereon. Wherever therewas a fold or wrinkle in the cloth it forms a crease or depression suchas 3 in the putty, while the texture of the cloth leaves a grain orsurface impression such as the stipple 4. Such depressions of surfacedesigns are not sharply defined but blend naturally and harmoniouslyinto the plane of the panel.

The panel thus treated is set aside till the putty has set to a degreethat will per-v the exact effect desired is accomplished.

The anel is then washed and dried. Then suitable coloring matter,preferably a pigment stain is rubbed into the creases and depressions inthe coating. This coloring matter is then rubbed oil with a rag,following the same practice common in the staining of open grainedpigments in the creases. From this point on the panel is treated in anysuitable manner to obtain the desired artistic efiect. It may bevarnished and dull rubbed, or rubbed to a high polish, or finished fiatby any of the arts of the interior decorator.

A little skill on the part of the operator wood, leaving the to theputty, to direct t makes it possible, in applyirigthe wet cloth 9cleases in any desired general direction, to avoid uniformity in theproduct, while maintaining a barmonious ensemble. The cloth can beapplied to vertical as well as horizontal surfaces which makes itpossible to redeeornte old structures. The putty fills cracks and marksof abuse on wood work, making a renewal possible without that,appearanceof ofl'ensire newness that too often follows reconstruction.

Boxes, chests and the-like and other urticlessmall and large can becoreredwith the mtt 2 and treated with the wet cloth and hnis led asdescribed and all the desired effects accomplished. Hand work is preferred in practising this invention, but it obviously is susceptible ofmechanical performance also.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Let ters Patent is 1. The method of treating plastic surfacesconsisting in manually applying a loose wrinkled fabric to said surface;applying pressure thereto, then removing said fabric.

2. The method of treating plastic surfaces consisting in applying awrinkled wet fabric to said surface; applying pressure thereto, thenremoving said fabric.

3. The method of treating plastic surfaces consisting in applying awrinkled fabric to said surface; applying pressure thereto, thenremoving said fabric; and rubbing coloring into said surface.

4. The method of imitating leather or the like consisting in preparing aplastic surfaced panel; applying a wrinkled fabric to said surface;applyiiig pressure thereto, then rcnioring said fabric; and coloringsaid surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco,California, this 31st day of January, 1920.

KARL L. TORNO.

In presence of Bnpnwm VALE, Lmoomr V. JouNsoN.

